Method and a device for setting a casing

ABSTRACT

A method and a device for setting a casing ( 1 ) against a formation ( 8 ), wherein the casing ( 1 ) is run into a bore ( 6 ) in the formation ( 8 ), and wherein a packer ( 2 ) is run into an annulus ( 4 ) between the casing ( 1 ) and the formation ( 8 ).

This invention relates to a method for setting a casing. More particularly, it concerns a method for setting a casing against a formation, in which the casing is set against the formation wall by means of a packer, the packer being run into an annulus between the casing and the formation wall. The invention also includes a device for practicing the method.

In the drilling of, for example, a petroleum well in the ground it is common, according to the prior art, to cement the casing to the formation. The aim is to connect the casing to the formation and prevent the flow of well fluid and drilling fluid through an annulus between the casing and the formation wall.

Cementation of this kind is relatively time-consuming, and it is known that such cementation may cause problems with, for example, formation stability and fracturing pressure.

The invention has as its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

The object is realized in accordance with the invention through the features specified in the description below and in the following Claims.

The setting of a casing against a formation, wherein the casing is run into a bore in the formation, may with advantage be carried out by placing the packer in a preloaded manner in an annulus between the casing and the bore. It is advantageous that the packer is tight.

The packer may be connected to the casing and run into the bore together with the casing. Alternatively, at least part of the packer may be telescopically movable along the casing and be moved into said annulus by means of, for example, differential pressure.

The packer should be elastic in order to achieve satisfactory sealing against the formation. An expandable or swellable packer may be used with advantage.

Packers for this purpose may be composed of different materials, which may be telescopic between themselves, and the external diameter may change continuously or in steps in the longitudinal direction of the plug.

If desirable, the area above the plug may be cemented, for example by passing cement through perforations in the casing. These perforations may be provided with check valves.

In a further embodiment the packer may be placed at the bottom of the borehole. It is not necessary to provide the borehole with a larger diameter at the packer. The packer is compressed by means of weight from the casing.

It is known that, due to the risk of a cave-in, well equipment should not be run into an uncased well if there is little clearance, for example less than 10 mm, between the equipment and the well wall. The reason may be that relatively great flow rates easily occur in this space when the equipment is moved within the well. The method and the device according to the invention are suitable also for openings of less than 10 mm and may also be used with openings of less than 5 mm.

In what follows is described a non-limiting example of a preferred method and embodiment visualized in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows schematically a casing which is being run into a bore in a well formation;

FIG. 2 shows schematically the casing after it has been placed in the bore, a packer connecting the casing with the well formation; and

FIG. 3 shows schematically the casing in an embodiment, in which two packers are used.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 identifies a casing which is provided with a first packer 2. In FIG. 1 the casing 1 is being run into an annulus 4 located between the casing 1 and a bore 6 in a well formation 8.

The bore 6, which forms part of a well 10, has a diameter approximately equal to or smaller than that of a possible above casing 12. In the drawings is shown a transitional portion 14 between the casing 12 and the bore 6. This transitional portion 14 may have a diameter which is larger than the diameter of the casing 12.

The first packer 2 is run, preloaded, into the annulus 4, see FIG. 2, after which, if desirable, the casing may be moved further into the bore 6.

In this preloaded position the first packer 2 connects the casing 1 with the well formation 8, and isolates at the same time the annulus 4 from the rest of the well 10.

In the figures, the first packer 2 is shown as a conical packer which is run into the annulus by means of the thrust of the casing 1. The first packer 2 may be formed as an expanding or swelling packer, so that it will tighten further after it has been placed in the annulus 4.

In a further embodiment, see FIG. 3, a second packer 16 is placed in the annulus at a level of height somewhat lower than the first packer 2.

The purpose of the second packer 16 is to connect further the casing 1 to the well formation 8, or to isolate a portion of the annulus 4 from the rest of the well 10. 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A method for setting a casing in a first bore in a formation, the method comprising the steps of: connecting at least one annular packer to an external surface of the casing; and conveying the packer into the first bore by the casing from an adjacent bore having a diameter greater than a diameter of the first bore.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the packer is in a preloaded condition when conveyed into the first bore.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of expanding the packer when the packer is in the first bore.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of swelling the packer when the packer is in the first bore.
 16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of running the packer into the first bore by means of differential pressure.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the packer is elastic.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the packer is expandable.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the packer is swellable.
 20. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of setting the packer and thereby sealing the casing within an annular radial opening of less than 10 mm.
 21. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of filling with cement a region of an annulus formed between an external surface of the casing and the first bore above the packer.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of flowing the cement into the annulus via perforations in the casing.
 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of setting the packer and thereby sealing the casing within a radial opening in the annulus of less than 5 mm. 